To think I have just been charged by the police and not know what to do next

[Worriedmummy2]

This morning I was at netball club with my young daughter when 2 police officers turned up and asked to speak to me. I was panic stricken as I thought something had happened to my husband and son.

They took me a short distance away from everyone and read me my rights. I think I went into shock at the point and have difficulty recalling what was said next.

I all revolves around an incident 2 weeks ago at the same club. The carpark is always busy as a netball and football club is on at the same time. I had trouble getting into a space and tried to edge in really slowly. I was literally going so slowly the speed wasn’t even registering. I was struggling to get in and a space opened up right behind me so I parked there instead. A man then walked up to my window and said ‘you just hit that car’. I replied that I don’t think I hit anything, I didn’t feel anything and was watching very carefully. I also have back sensors which did not go off at all. The man then got aggressive and kept stating that I hit another car. My 6 year old daughter was with me and was getting upset. I said ok I will leave a note.

I then found the only scrappy bit of paper in the car that I could and wrote my mobile on it. I waited until the man walked away as I felt unsafe then went over to the car which I presumed was the one he meant. I could see no damage and there was no damage to my car. Nevertheless I put my phone number under the wiper. I didn’t write on it ‘I got your car’ or anything as I honestly don’t believe I did.

Fast forward 2 weeks and the police turn up. They gave me a list of offences - I think there were 3 and I think one was failing to stop and failing to report an accident. They said Aggressive man told the owner of the car that I had just left a blank piece of paper on the car but that he had my details. I explained what had actually happened I think but, to be honest, I was so stressed I imagine it was pretty jumbled. I’m just in disbelief. Why on earth would anyone leave a blank piece of paper when you go there every week, someone has taken a picture of your car etc.

I even showed them texts I sent to my husband 10 minutes later about what had happened and how I had left my details. I said in the text, I don’t think I hit them but they’ll probably try to claim for everything now so that will be our insurance going up.

The police read the texts, made a note of everything I had said and said they would investigate more. Have I been charged? Do I need a solicitor? What should I do next? My anxiety is through the roof after reading those charges can mean 6 months in prison. Haven’t stopped crying all day.

Perhaps the aggressive man from last week was there again today, saw you and thought he'd try and get you into trouble. So he called the police to say that he had seen you leave the scene of an accident, but knew they wouldn't be interested if he said you'd left a note so lied and said it was a piece of blank paper.

I don't think you did anything wrong last week - why would you have tried to find the owner when there was no damage and you didn't think you'd hit it anyway. Just on the say-so of some random bloke. I'd have done exactly the same as you.

The only think that I'd have done differently is that I would never speak to the police under caution without a solicitor. Call me cynical, but I think it's better to have representation if there's any hint of being on the wrong side of the law.

You said you had rear sensors. Maybe you bashed the car with the front of your car ?

What the fuck are you doing op. Just calm down. Jesus.

I suppose I’m worried that there was damage I didn’t see to the other car (I only looked quickly) and that aggressive man lied about my note or it blew away or something. Then I did technically leave without leaving proper details. And I have no way of proving my story apart from a few texts to my husband

Lol - They've called in extra officers from out of town to deal with you OP. Menace to society that you are!

PMSL The things police spend time on baffles me sometimes.

First rule of traffic police is that all forms of rule breaking are really highly correlated with all other forms of rule breaking, so if you catch someone who’s flagrantly failing to leave their details for a very minor incident then the odds are high that they’re doing god knows what else. As per OP that’s not what was actually happening in this case but that may be how it was reported.

He knew your details and recognised you despite you only allegedly leaving a blank bit of paper, but you've never seen him before?

Just ring and be polite and co-operative. It won’t go anywhere, as there no damage or cctv to evidence what you did, that it was intentional, or that you didn’t leave details.

I know it feels awful, I once forgot to pay for petrol and got arrested, taken to the police station, fingerprinted, dna tested and then ‘no crimed’ as it was clearly just a mistake (no attempt to disguise my numberplate or appearance for example). It was stressful, but I just stayed calm and co-operative, chatted to the policeman and the custody sergeant (who looked me up and down when her colleague offered to stay while she fingerprinted me and said ‘its alright I think I can handle this one’).

No point getting worked up angry or anxious, you just have to deal with what life throws at you.

You think you put your phone number in the wrong car? How tight was this space?

It doesn't make sense. Surely you would have checked to see what this man was on about?

Honestly, nothing will happen.

I assume there is absolutely zero damage to your car ? So that’s a start. Make sure you write down now exactly what happened on the day and photograph your car now , and as suggested check for any cctv. It all sounds very odd and over the top to me . But worth getting screen shots of your texts as well .

I bet someone in this circus is friends with the police.

We have had a number of burglaries, cars scratched on the street, bikes being stolen, etc but if you call the police, they just say you should put an insurance claim. If you are lucky a policeman will come to take a statement a few days later. By that time you would have lost hope they will ever show up as you have been told the guy will be there in an hour or so for at least three days.

A friend left her bike outside her house unlocked. Within a few hours we had several policemen knocking at our doors and leaving cards asking if we had seen any one with the blooming bike.

You can easily guess it, my friend was dating a policeman.

This sounds so wierd to me OP, are you absolutely sure they were genuine police officers?

Where I live they dont even come out to see you if you have been burgled, let alone going to investigate a prang in a packed car park!

I would follow this up with your local police station...

Op

I suspect that you sent the messages to your husband with the specific intention that you could draw on them in the event that your actions came back to bite you, which they have done so.

I also suspect that you have posted this thread as “evidence” of your innocence (it won’t count for anything btw)

You will of course deny, but this is what I would put money on

I too was thinking someone is connected to a copper in this story.

I was edging in between 2 parked cars. I presumed I thought I hit the first one as my back passenger side was very close to his drivers back. But I guess he could have meant I hit the one the other side now looking back? But I have front and rear sensors, surely they would have gone off anyway. I was stupid I know but I was in a panic. I felt intimidated especially having my daughter with me and just wanted to leave.

Did you ask the man where you hit the other car so you could see the damage? Did you check for damage to your car?

This isn’t right. Why would you not photo the damage to the cars before leaving your details? You left your phone number a a random car with no damage you didn’t think you hit because a man told you to?

I can only think the aggressive man is a cop, and the car you hit/didn't hit belongs to a relative or friend of his.

What kind of car do you drive ?

I’m not a troll, I am a long time lurker on Mumsnet but registered to ask for help and advice on this.

I know I was stupid. I should have taken photos, anything but I was worried and just wanted to leave. I know my stupid actions will probably get me in a load of trouble but I can’t change them now.